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The IslandWood Story

Over a decade ago, IslandWood planted a seed. Nestled there, a world of possibility prepared to sprout, grow, and mature. It was rooted in a belief that the natural world holds the power to educate and inspire not only the way we live, but the way we see. By gaining a new awareness—of nature, ourselves, and one another—we realize our true potential and our ability to chart a course to a better world.

IslandWood has grown from a pilot program serving ten Seattle schools into a nationally recognized organization rooted in an integrated approach to scientific learning, self-awareness, and stewardship. The nature of our mission has enabled us to expand our offerings on Bainbridge Island to include a School Overnight Program, school and graduate programs, camps, community events, conferences, and celebrations. It also extends to our partnerships with Homewaters programming in Seattle schools and neighborhoods, as well as the Brightwater Center near Woodinville.

Through our unwavering commitment to creating unparalleled outdoor experiences, we continue to expand our reach and evolve into a recognized leader in the field of experiential education. We celebrate our home on Bainbridge Island while also moving beyond the campus to further a recognized way of decision-making that permeates our social and environmental culture. It's an opportunity to invite each person who crosses our path see nature—and themselves—in a new way.

IslandWood’s logo embraces our fundamental truth that learning is a journey, one that begins with the spark of inspiration. From there we begin to connect the dots—between experiences, with others and within ourselves. In doing so, we move onward and outward from point to point, broadening both our perspective and our reach. Guided by this understanding, we continue on a new kind of trajectory.

The path of connected dots begins with four nodes, each representative of an IslandWood pillar: Education, Environment, Community, Stewardship.

Together, the four nodes create the foundation for the experience. As the dots connect the path is revealed, acknowledging the journey toward discovery—and the place of the experience inside something larger.

The fifth node is representative of the Self, an open form full of possibility. The empty space intuitively calls the reader to connect the dots, celebrating the power of the individual as they realize their potential and chart their future path.

Each node is intentionally created through a process of layered illustration. Perfectly imperfect—just like nature, just like every living thing. The broadening of the line as it moves forward nods to the trajectory gained through the journey.

The logo is fully revealed with the IslandWood wordmark. The letterforms’ soft edges invite exploration, balanced by a woodblock quality evoked through shape and color. Touches of irregularity celebrate the imperfection of nature. A foundational and inhabitable signature.